Our favorite sneakers may hold more information about us than we may think. In fact, a new survey conducted by eBay to 2,000 US respondents reveals that almost a quarter (24%) admit that the shoes someone is wearing can impact their first impression, with the colour, cost, brand, material and style all playing a part.
What sneakers say the most about you?
Sneakers are not only a type of footwear but are a way to express yourself, your style and convey your personality. In fact, one in five (20%) respondents admitted that the sneakers someone is wearing can define your character. Whether someone views you as confident, alternative or friendly could rely on a quick glance at your footwear.
But did you know that some sneakers say more about you than others?
From Nike Air Jordan 11 to adidas Samba, eBay’s survey collected perceptions for 33 of the most popular sneaker models to find out which make the biggest impact.
The top three sneakers that make a lasting positive impression:
- Nike Air Force 1
- adidas Superstar
- Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Found in low, mid, super low, high and super high silhouettes, the Nike Air Force 1 was first released in 1982 and is one of the world’s most loved sneakers of all time. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise then that the study found that almost one in 10 Americans (9%) believe this sneaker to be the most personality-defining.
Men and women’s opinions on the most impactful sneaker differ, with men believing that the Nike Air Jordan 1 reveals the most about someone’s personality, whilst women say it’s the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star.
Sneakers are worn as a way to express yourself, with every make and model indicating something slightly different. Participants assigned different personal traits — from confidence to adventurousness — to 33 different sneakers to determine which makes and models are associated with each of these attributes the most.
Personality |
Sneaker |
|---|---|
| Confident | Nike Air Jordan 1 |
| Extroverted | Nike Air Jordan 1 |
| Alternative | Converse Chuck Taylor All Star |
| Stylish | Nike Air Jordan 1 |
| Down to earth | Converse Chuck Taylor All Star |
| Professional | Nike Air Jordan 3 |
| Creative | Vans Sk8-Hi |
| Adventurous | Converse Chuck Taylor All Star |
Famously worn on the court by the legendary Michael Jordan since 1984, the Nike Air Jordan 1 has been associated with the most personality traits. Almost one in five respondents perceive people wearing this sneaker as stylish, whilst 16% of Americans deemed people wearing the Nike Air Jordan 1 to be confident.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star (commonly known as the Converse All Star) is also seen to suggest several character types. Participants alleged to perceive those wearing these sneakers as the most down to earth, as well as the most alternative and adventurous.
City of residence also suggests how differently we perceive a pair of kicks. For a person based in Austin, adidas Stan Smith are perceived to be the most stylish, whereas those in San Antonio find people wearing Nike Air Huarache as down to earth. Adventurous and down to earth are two personality traits that Washingtonians view people wearing a pair of Nike Air Foamposite.
Wearing the right shoes can be a real boost to your confidence, and whilst the Nike Air Jordan range comes out triumphantly as the ultimate sneaker to accomplish this, men see the Nike Air Jordan 5 as the biggest confidence indicator, compared to women who opt for the Nike Air Jordan 1 classics.
Photo by Edgar Chaparro on Unsplash
